@_L1vY_ The saddest thing is that folks who left the church for ethical reasons also left it for the worst folks who lack ethics.

Its understandable to lose faith but power that is not disarmed will be weaponized.

Its good to see the Pope recognizing this and working to deal with that legacy.

It has a flawed history and will always be imperfect but the power within it is real and ought to be used wisely.

@_L1vY_ The compelling thing about religion is that because it is literally about faith, it can be reshaped by the poorest within it.

Pope Leo is pushing back against the parts that have been used to consolidate power and focusing on the Christ aspect.

Its interesting because as part of the homeschooling my mom picked for me, I studied saints and the narrative that was part of the faith.

It has powerful stories and though the stories can be used for conquest, they can also be used for change.

@quietmarc I keep seeing folks discuss him in my feed...

I'm sure he is that vapid but also, it seems to be doing his marketing work.

@baldur Artistic practice is generally the easiest way to develop this relationship with your own mind outside of but still connected to the physical world. Creative expression thrives in the digital space, in part because it makes the digital space feel real in ways that code alone doesn't.

So...yeah...

There's some real intent to harm and destroy but a lot of it is tangled up with subconcious frustrations and insecurities.

@baldur The point is the harm caused. Not for everyone, some folks really don't see a difference. But, there is a real push to hurt artists on purpose.

There's some envy in there. Its all essentially the plot of Full Metal Alchemist (Brotherhood if you reference the anime).

Its weird in a lot of ways but it makes sense. We're all existing in this highly abstract digital space. Its easy to come undone if you lack some healthy relationship with philosophical/metaphysical/spiritual ideas.

@baldur It connects to broader issues with how empty that an existence without ethics or limits is.

It becomes highly philosophical and treads into areas that deal with faith and the metaphysical (dieties optional).

Its silly but a lot of the LLM worship is just folks in extreme pain trying to defile artists as proof that there is no god. I've often seen tech bros trot out...."see, there is no such thing as a soul because a machine can make art".

@baldur It is tied in with piracy culture and it exists alongside the "I made this" meme.

Its just a cultural mindset where some folks live in this bubble beyond understanding that creation is labor and labor is the root of all things.

The ephemeral nature of things online blurs the understanding that digital outputs are tied to reality meaningfully.

It takes effort to see the material nature of things and recognize the difference between building a library and looting one.

@ben The polls thing is part of it but...

Its easier to disappear people at airports. No one knows each other, everyone is anxiously in transit and airplanes are on standby to traffick.

People aren't concerned enough about now. This moment. This cruelty.

Its different than a community with neighbors and a sense of shared pride and community.